Reliability-based numerical analysis of glulam beams reinforced by CFRP plate

Abstract

Most existed researches consider deterministic numerical analysis when dealing with structural models. However, the test results reveal that uncertainties are existing in most cases regarding some considerations such as material randomness and the lack of experience. Therefore, proposing a probabilistic design models have got attention of researchers according to its important role in predicting accurate performance of the structures. The aim of the proposed work is to consider reliability-based analysis in numerical modelling of glulam beams reinforced with CFRP plates as well as unreinforced glulam beams by considering the properties of used timber material as random variables having mean value and standard deviation taking into consideration that the findings of this study have shown that the reliability index is worked efficiently as a limit which controls the process. Hill yield criterion model is adopted with respect to the data which is obtained from the experimental tests in order to validate the models. Furthermore, a detailed comparison between the reinforced and unreinforced glulam beams are proposed to see the effect of introducing the CFRP plates as a reinforcement material. The results of this study have successfully given a deep understanding of how the uncertainties plays a crucial role on the resulted deformations and stresses in which it was founded by making a comparison between deterministic and probabilistic numerical analysis.